BOOK Reflections: The Future of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell, PhD
The Future of Nutrition is an important study in this field, given the times we live in and the state of our alleged ‘Health Care Systems’. We are living in a diseased era, where life expectancy has risen but at what cost……are those extra years one of joy and health or is it a slow decline riddled with chronic health conditions and illnesses.Sadly, the statistics on chronic disease globally tell the story of that one.
Dr Campbell begins his in-depth critique of the institutions controlling the health narrative in the opening paragraph, arguing that there a few things more provocative than the food we choose to eat and the agitation caused at any suggestion of dietary change. This sets the tone of the book, which is an exploration of why animal protein is given so much dominance and why nutrition came to be forbidden from the study and discourse of science and medical institutions.
Dr Campbell who is now 87yrs is most likely known to most as the author of the ‘The China Study’, the largest nutrition based research ever conducted and his appearance in documentaries such as ‘Fork over knives’ and ‘What the Health’. Coming from a dairy farming background it was through his research in the Phillipines and China, linking cancer growth with animal protein that he took on a plant based diet and eventually coining the term “Whole Food Plant Based”, which is now more broadly used by the health profession promoting the benefits of this type of diet.
As a reader coming from a background with limited understanding of how scientific research is conducted and recorded, this book provides good overview of the systems in place that encourage and limit different types of research and moreso, what influences are at play determining what is to be studied and what is to be excluded.
The historical overview (the past 150yrs) which is delved into, sets the scene for what is being carried over to this day. It is a rich exploration of the early days, when nutrition research was growing, but stopped in its tracks by the field which was being monopolised by the ‘local theory’ advocates (illnesses treated with surgery, chemo, isolate genes etc). It details very clearly how treatment and surgery were institutionalised as the dominant theory and how nutrition was something to be ridiculed in the area of health/disease care.
As the story progresses, the author uses many personal experiences to demonstrate points being made, such as the immense dissatisfaction and negative attention someone gets who goes against the grain of the field and questions why. There is strong evidence of industry and pharmaceuticals involvement in everything related to health research, including the dietary guidelines, links to universities and membership on committees, councils and groups that control the health narrative. This narrative is not one with the public interests first; it is about profit and controlling the science.
Animal protein is given some quality air time given the centre stage it has in our relationship to food. During the chapter “the cult of animal protein” it is evident that as far back as early 1800’s the science was already favouring animal protein as superior. It was seen as another status symbol, fuelling myths that civilisations that consumed the most animal protein were superior to those who didn’t.
The author moves through chronologically, pivotal points in history that have set the course of where the health system currently stands. He shows the reader how animal protein is also protected from scrutiny by the field of science, who tend to embrace diversions and scapegoats. For example, evidence is presented on animal protein being responsible for cancer cell initiation, heart disease and a myriad of chronic diseases, yet the scapegoats are cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats, to divert the discussion towards these secondary issues, instead of focussing on the driver itself, which is animal protein.
The author focusses on the future of nutrition in the final third of the book and takes aim at the institutions themselves and the need to radically change the course of science. He highlights the dominant phenomenon which is scientific reductionism and how this approach is limiting the inclusion of nutrition in the field of health science. This analysis explores the confusion surrounding nutrients, calorie intake and the Goliath that has become the dietary supplements industry (a massive deviation in the wrong direction).
As suggested the author provides insight to what is necessary for the future, which he coins “Wholistic Science”. In summary this is moving away from the idea that we have to study individual components of disease and undertake surgery of affected parts to gain our health. Instead, we need to harness the greater scientific research and adopt a diet that promotes whole foods and is free of animals, processing and supplements that merely seek us coming back for more.
Critics of the WFPB diet are less impressed with the evidence available on the subject since the methodologies held in the highest esteem are not translatable when studying nutrition i.e you cannot undertake double blind / placebo trials when it comes to food. However, Dr Campbell argues, when various effective methodologies are compiled together such as correlational, intervention and Laboratory studies, you can begin to see the strong evidence that exists favouring a diet high in plants and whole foods, that has shown to not only prevent most chronic diseases, but in many cases, reverse these diseases.
It’s difficult to find any faults in the theories and ideas presented by Dr Campbell. Reviews have been varied with many non-scientific reviewers claiming it to be too repetitive and bogged down in the history of nutrition, or not as good as his other two books. Some compare it to Dr Gregors “how not to die” and claim that book is the pick of the two. Furthermore, as an introduction to Dr Campbells writings this is not recommended as the starting book to read. I tend to agree with this, even though I am yet to read “The China Study” or “Whole”. I did start this book with a different belief of what to expect, and was somewhat surprised to receive more of an historical account and at times biography of his life. I am also challenged by Dr Campbells views on the morality of eating animals as he states clearly that this is not a reason enough to adopt a plant based diet and his reasons for this lifestyle/diet are purely from the scientific research. He does not oppose animal laboratory testing, which has been the cornerstone of his life work, which on one hand I am grateful that his research has shown how animal protein promotes disease, but on the other hand, it raises so many ethical dilemmas about exploiting animals and where do we draw the line between what is necessary and what its unnecessary exploitation. Unfortunately , this is where speciest attitudes start to play a role with the majority of health professionals promoting plant based lifestyles, such as Dr Michael Gregor.
In conclusion, it is extremely refreshing and exciting when a Professional such as Dr Campbell speaks out against the system and tries to highlight the need to always question science and never settle for a conclusive result. You could mistaken him for a conspiracy theorist but with so much evidence and support behind him, it’s clear that he is merely making a case that goes against the narrative and attempts to put the power back into the hands of the public, the individual. This is the take away for me, the sense of agency and freedom to determine our own health and the need to rely less on the institutions and the system that perpetuates illness and disease. As his closing remark reads, we need to “heal Nutrition”, and challenge the dominant ideology that Nutrition has no place in the field of science. Nutrition needs to be the foundation to build our future; without it the future of the planet is in undeniable risk.